Gov. Phil Murphy will announce today that he has moved the New Jersey primary election to July 7, and that the election will be in-person voting unless circumstances over the next few weeks leave him no choice but to shift to an entirely vote-by-mail election, the New Jersey Globe has learned from individuals briefed on the upcoming order.
Murphy will also announce that he will extend all post-April 11 statutory deadlines to reflect the new election date, with at least once exception: today’s deadline to switch party affiliations will be extended to May 13.
The March 30 filing deadline will not be reopened. Ballot drawings will still be held tomorrow in all 21 counties.
The voter registration deadline to participate in the July 7 primary will move from May 12 to June 16. The mandated evening voter registration hours will also be extended.
Democratic and Republican national committees are in the process of providing New Jersey with a waiver of their deadline to elect delegates, the Globe has learned.
The Democratic State Committee plans to extend the date to elect at-large and PLEO delegates that had been set for the week after the primary, according to a source familiar with the delegate selection plans.
Murphy’s order will also push back printing and mailing deadlines.
“Preserving basic functions of our democracy is critical in this unprecedented time,” Murphy said. “Citizens exercising their right to vote should not have to risk their safety and the safety of others in order to make their voices heard. Postponing our primary elections is a difficult, yet necessary, choice to ensure that our citizens can partake in their civic duty of voting.”
New Jersey Secretary of State Tahesha Way said that Murphy’s decision to move New Jersey’s primary”will provide our state, county, and local election officials with the time we need to prepare for a free, fair, and safe election for New Jersey voters.”
The Globe first reported that the primary will be in-person and not all-VBM yesterday.
This story was updated at 1:40 PM.